Friday, November 30, 2012

COUTURE BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT

Norman Hartnell 1953. My interpretation of the exhibition-poster, 
reworked in photoshop

-Couture by Royal Appointment, is a new Exhibition at The Fashion and Textile Museum in London, which was founded by British designer, Zandra Rhodes in 2003.
Today the Museum is redeveloped and operated by Newham College and is a hub of learning, ideas and networking for the fashion and jewellery industry.

"The exhibition by the designers to H.M. The Queen: Norman Hartnell, Hardy Amies and milliner Frederick Fox, celebrates the timeless elegance of London couture and explores how the Queen’s patronage of groundbreaking British designers helped put London on the international fashion map after the Second World War".


Before Sir Norman Bishop Hartnell (1901 - 1979) opened his house in 1923, there was little typically British couture. His elegant gowns attracted royal and aristocratic customers.
Known for the design of the Queen's wedding dress in 1947 and Coronation Dress of 1953, the iconic dress of the mid twentieth century, Hartnell expressed the characteristics and the quality of British high fashion and set the standard for generations to come.

He even inspired Christian Dior and was also acknowledged by Coco Chanel.

Sir Hardy Amies’ career began as designer at Lachasse, noted for its tailored suits. He was in tune with Christian Dior’s New Look, by 1951 Princess Elizabeth ordered from him, and as Queen Elizabeth II did so for the next five decades.

Amies became a successful menswear designer in 1959 with the first recorded men’s catwalk show. The clothes were fashionable and affordable, and the bespoke tradition continues today.



The Exhibition also highlights the milliner’s role in London couture through the work of Australian-born designer Frederick Fox
His most famous designs are the hats he created for Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and many celebrities worldwide.

Original black and white photos reworked in Photoshop

Hartnell to Amies - Couture by Royal Appointment opened 16 of November and is running until 23 of February 2013. Another good reason to go to London.

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